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Animal Rights Activists Allegedly Beaten by Police in Thane, Maharashtra

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Maneka Gandhi, an animal rights activist and former Union minister, has demanded the suspension of several police officials who allegedly beat up four animal rights activists in Kalyan, Thane, Maharashtra. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, has sparked outrage among animal rights groups and raised concerns about police brutality. According to Gandhi, the activists were assaulted at the police station after they were detained by police for trying to investigate a complaint of animal cruelty.

Key Takeaways:

  • The incident involved four animal rights activists, including two members of the People for Animals (PFA) NGO, who were allegedly beaten up by police at the Bazarpeth police station in Kalyan, Thane.
  • The activists had sought permission from the senior inspector of the police station to access CCTV footage of a housing society, where they had received a complaint of animal cruelty.
  • However, the police personnel allegedly dragged the activists into a police van and beat them up at the police station, despite Gandhi's intervention over the phone.
  • Vijay Rangare, the PFA Unit-2 head, has filed a written complaint with the Thane police against six police officials, including Pramod Sanap, Kailash Bunchu, R D Kamdi, Kirti Javre, Ashok Suryavanshi, and constable Torne.
  • Rangare has suffered minor injuries and a colleague, Akshay Gopale, has pain in his ears due to the assault.
  • The police have denied any wrongdoing, but Rangare has asked for CCTV footage from the police station to investigate the incident.
  • The incident has sparked outrage among animal rights groups, with Gandhi demanding the suspension of the police officials involved.

Statistics:

  • 4: Number of animal rights activists allegedly beaten up by police.
  • 2: Number of PFA members among the activists.
  • 6: Number of police officials named in the complaint filed by Rangare.
  • 1: Number of phone calls made by Gandhi to the police officer on duty at the police station.

Sources:

  • [Maneka Gandhi's statement to TOI: "Our PFA Unit-2 head, Vijay Rangare, had taken permission from the senior inspector of Bazarpeth police station that he and three others wanted to see CCTV of a housing society about animal cruelty."]
  • [Rangare's written complaint to the Thane police: "I have suffered few minor injuries, while my colleague Akshay Gopale has pain in his ears due to the assault at the police station."]
  • [Senior inspector Yashwant Chavan's statement to TOI: "Since society residents called up the police, alleging that animal activists were misbehaving, a team rushed to the building. They calmed them and got both parties to the police station."]

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